It's been a long time since we last went out of town, and here are the highlights of the trip:

GET THERE:
This time, it's by air. We took Cebu Pacific. Yes, the planes are new.

gigil!  at the MIA	the Cebu Pacific Ladies teaching us how to survive a crashing plane hehe

Being the City of Smiles, Bacolod celebrated it's Foundation day with a huge (and i mean huge) parade of marching bands and lyre groups. Locals and tourists alike are flocking the streets to see this, and this ain't the main event yet!





ABS-CBN's MASK MAKING COMPETITION
They say that it's been a tradition long been upheld. And more and more organizations and institutions are participating in month long activities for the Masskara Festival.

happy and sad	laughing	larger than life-size hehe

MANOKAN COUNTRY
The perfect pig-out place in Bacolod City. You get a plateful of fresh oysters for P30 and chicken inasal for P45! Manokan Country is a strip of open-air canteens which serve chicken inasal and fresh oysters as their main dishes. Actually hindi ko alam kung may binebenta pang iba. We ate there twice and never looked at a menu dahil alam na namin agad ang order namin: inasal and oysters! Kung oyster lover ka and you live in Manila, you'll definitely take advantage of the low cost -- hanggang mahilo ka. Ang isang platong Oysters sa "Dampa sa Timog" ay nagkakahalaga na ng P100. Sa Kamay Kainan, kailangan mo munang mag-eat all you can, sa mga bars, walang bababa sa P140 ang isang order (take note, approx. pitong pirasong talaba lang yun!) Nakaka-high talaga ang murang talaba!

at the manokan country!	fresh oysters and authentic bacolod chicken inasal!!!	yum-yum-yum-yum-yum!

MAMMA MARIA's PIZZA
The BIGGEST PIZZA IN THE PHILIPPINES can be found in MAMMA MARIA's at Lacson Ave, Bacolod City. Ang pizza nila na kasing laki ng biggest Yellow Cab Pizza ay P355 lamang! And there's even another size bigger than that. Kasing laki na ng typical round table ng inyong old school garden sets ang biggest pizza nila! :) Kung hindi niyo ma-imagine, teka't kukunin ko ang flyer para sa exact diameter.

Gian, Tracy, Pat and Nats	Home of the Philippine's Biggest Pizza. No kidding!

CHICKEN DELI
There's also Chicken Deli at Lacson St., of course, we just did not have the photos.


ENCHI in concert @ Chez Andre
The reggae band from Dumaguete (who did the reggae version of Yano's "Tsinelas") Ang sarap makinig ng bisaya reggae!


27TH MASSKARA FESTIVAL - STREET DANCE COMPETITION
We were in awe. The festival exceeded our expectations.

Some of the photos I took. :) See related article here

Akala namin hindi na kami makakapasok sa main stage dahil naubusan na kami ng gate pass sa dami daw ng foreigners na dumayo para lang manood. Pero dahil maabilidad kami, next thing we knew, katabi na namin ang media people at professional photographers documenting the event. Nasa harap kami ng judges. Sa harap ng mismong performers!

Walang sinabi ang mga pictures ng past masskara festivals. It's totally different seeing them in action. The dance steps are well choreographed, the costumes are elaborate, may bonggang production design pa complete with props and moving set! Siyempre hindi mawawala ang mga pasabog na confetti.

Pa-picture naman para documented :)

Boracay Island October 21-23, 2006

BORACAY's JUST a few hours away!
Of course we didn't let the opportunity pass. We took a ferry to Ilo-Ilo and rode a bus to Catiklan. It was a 5-6 hour trip. We stayed there for 3 days, but half of my time was spent doing a promo website or entertaining business calls. I even left our office's thumbdrive at a net cafe! I only realized that I left the poor usb drive with the jpeg web studies when we were already at the boat from the island on our way to Kalibo. There's no turning back.

looking out for Boracay Oceanjet Ferry from Bacolod to Iloilo	looking at Boracay	Boracay is still charming  specially at off peak seasons like now

Oompa at the Grotto	Ponkee at the Grotto	At some carinderia	fun in the sand

We DID have FUN even though I WORKED during our vacation. Our first night was spent listening to live acoustic reggae music while drinking red horse at a reggae bar. We had the best and most sulit buffet experience too! P179 pesos for a buffet of Oysters and Crabs! Grrrr...

Don't forget to bring home the famous Boracay Lamps and the memories!

colorful	memories

DUMANGGAS SIDE-TRIP
We missed the last trip of the ferry from Ilo-ilo to Bacolod. The next ferry trip is in the next morning at 5AM.
We were silently panicking -- we had no idea how to get back to Bacolod before our 6AM flight to Manila the following day. Everyone else is telling us we can just spend the night at a motel because there were no more ferry trips at night.

A security guard told us that there are still 8PM RORO trips at the province of DUMANGGAS. I texted my friend from Bacolod and she warned us to be careful because the province is known for ASWANGS. I didn't know what to feel/react when she advised us to bring bawang and not to eat anything from there, especially meat. I wanted to regard it as an advise not to be taken seriously -- but we were really new to the place. We didn't know anyone and everyone else spoke in Ilonggo. We hired a taxi for P550 and waited at the port area for two hours. We were back in Bacolod by midnight. :) We were relieved. Nakabalik kami ng buhay after we made our way past the talahibs, mini-kaingins, dark roads and most especially, aswang threats.


MINIMUM JEEP FARE: P5 LANG!
Thank you so much Jellie, Sol, and Lola Caro for providing us the spacious, cozy room.
 

our room	souvernirs!

Salamat din jay AFP-Antonio Chavez sa pag-alalay sa amin para sa dokyu namin sa Masscara Street Dance Competition.

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text and photos by altum_viditur and wonderzomboy.

We had always wanted to go somewhere, far. Somewhere far. Around early March, Jam, a friend, told us that Cebu Pacific was having this P10-fare promo, while we were sitting around the office one night. So to make a long story short, we bought tickets to Bacolod, in time for the Masskara Festival. But that's another travel story.

So before the Lenten Season, Ponkee and I were so busy thinking of places to go to, of things to do, after all, it's a very long weekend. One tuesday night, Jam, again, was in the office. We told her that we still don't have a plan on where to spend our lenten season. She said, 3 words: Blue-Lagoon-Pagudpud. Right there and then, I called the bus companies for their trip schedules.

Tuesday night, I was calling the bus companies. Wednesday morning, at 3 AM, i was already packing my bags. We're going to Pagudpud, via Laoag. I told my bestfriend Nick that finally, we got a place to go to. "Sunod Kayo!" was a very useful advice.

Here's what happened:

Awan, Atu, Adeng! The Ilocos Adventure

from: repist ako forum

Nagpunta lang kami dahil hindi kami nag-iisip, go lang kami ng go - burmakat

well, Pagudpud naman is in Ilocos.

So this is the story Morning glory:

ETO ANG KWENTO NG ILOCOS TRIP:

April ++
Nick, Kalai, Roma, Abet talking about going to some beach, probably Galera, or Baguio.

April 12
Roma and Amrei determined to do some backpacking - anywhere.

Sa YM: (4/12/2006 12:34:56 PM)
♦ ako: may masa-suggest ka bang magandang puntahan (pref:beach) ngayong holy week na mura lang at malapit lang? batangas, pangasinan....
♦ ram: hmmm... galing kaming iba zambales... ayus dun mura lang. ata. contact mo si budj
♦ ako: maganda yung beach/sand? may fish?
♦ ram: ayos lang. walang fich, pero ok beach... malayo na, di parin malalim...
♦ ako: hmmm...
...

Sa YM: (4/12/2006 1:00:44 PM)
♦ ako: di ba tayo aalis?
...
♦ abet: saan mo gusto pumunta?
♦ ako: sa mura lang na may beach and fish. hindi sa mecca ng bading. fooly booked na ang encenada eh. tumawag kami kanina
♦ abet: naman...
♦ ako: naman... ano kina burmis na lang sa zambales?
♦ abet: kelan ang plano?
♦ ako: bukas na!
♦ abet: gusto ni kalai sa baguio this friday?
♦ ako: where do you suggest?
...
♦ ako: eh sino bang sasama? kami lang naman ni amrei ang nagaayaan sa isat isa. kala ko nagpaplano din kayo/tayo nina nicky
♦ abet: nyorks. alam mo naman ako kaladkarin lang at walang panahong sumama sa planning stage. basta kasama ako...

Sa text:
♦ Roma: Nicky, gusto mong umalis sa murang halaga? Whatif chikahin mo ngayon si Mama Kat para magpa-slumber party siya sa kubo nila sa Zambales?
♦ Nicky: (hindi nagreply)

Sa Opis:
♦ Roma: Hindi pa rin kami decided kung saan kami pupunta.
♦ Jam: Sa Pagudpud! Grabe dati nangatok lang kami ng ex ko ng bahay, tas nagpunta kaming Blue Lagoon, ang ganda! Go! Backpack na!

Dahil dun, nagdesisyon kami ni Amrei na gumow na lang sa Pagudpud!

April 13, 6 AM:
♦ Nick: Tara punta na tayong Baguio mamaya!
♦ Roma: Ha? Eh nakasakay na ako pa-Laoag eh. Tara sunod na lang kayo, punta kaming Pagudpud! Wala namang meron sa Baguio eh, Ukay lang and the weather.
♦ Nick: (Hindi nagreply)

April 13, 2 PM:
♦ Kalai: Magkano papunta dyan? Susunod kame!

April 13 6 PM:
♦ Mama Kat: Andito ako sa Auto Bus. San kayo?
♦ Roma: Eh nasa Ilocos Sur na ako eh, sila Kalai text mo.

Ang ganda diba?

Parang kwentuhan lang tas nagka-ayaan tas go na ng go ang mga utrez. Naisip ko tuloy malalaki na talaga tayo. Coordinate coordinate lang kami ni Kalai at naghanap kami ng ways and means ni Amrei kung paano makakarating sa Pagudpud given the situation - halos walang biyahe dahil mandi tarsdi na (apparently, inabutan naming makabalik na ang last trip to Pagudpud from Laoag).


Gosh! Buong Laoag, alam na ang plano namin sa buhay. In fact, yung mga tiga SUMVAC (friends ng bikers) ay tinanong kami ng mapadaan kami ng: Ano? Nakapag-check in na kayo?

So ayun, balita lang namin from Kalai, Nick, Mama Kat, Papa John and Summer eh pagbaba daw nila ng bus sa Laoag, sinalubong sila ng Trike driver at sabing: Kayo yung kasama nung dalawang tomboy?!


Kamusta yun? Ayun. So a little something like chumika si Amroy ng jeep driver to drive us to Pagudpud. Then I made chika ng manong konsehal for a rent-a-van mode of transport.

So pwede nyo din kaming kunin na Tour Guide ng Laoag, Pagudpud and Vigan.

But to make all things complete, you can get all 7 of us to be your partners in your next backpacking adventures. We specialize in:

Papa John: tent erection and hammock hanging
--- two-time tent erection and hammock hanging winner

MamaKat: Fire making, Fanning and Cooking with Salt and Pepper
--- made fire twice, using her fan and muscles
--- Salted and peppered the yellow fin Tuna, with SAND!

Roma: Transportation hunting, destination pointing, and cooking
--- conquered Laoag,Saud, Blue Lagoon, Vigan with tour guide and van
--- also salted and peppered the yellow fin Tuna, with SAND!

Amrei: Negotiation and Borrowing and Refreshments Master
--- negotiated jeep ride fare to Pagudpud
--- borrowed knife for gutting fish from the lola neighbor
--- bought coke most of the time
--- asked lola neighbor to "makikilagay po ng coke sa cooler nyo!"

Nick: Fish Gutting and Panggatong hunting
--- gutted a 2-kilo yellow fin tuna
--- looked for coconut husks as panggatong

Kalai: Marketing and Chopping
--- marketed for goods from the market
--- chopped red egg and tomatoes

Summer: Gutting, Seasoning and Cooking
--- also gutted a 2-kilo yellow fin tuna
--- seasoned the yellow fin tuna with Century Tuna Flakes in Oil oil
--- also salted and peppered yellow fin Tuna, with SAND!

heheheee... Patok ang mga tandem namin!

At dapat hindi din tayo nagpaplano dahil andito kami para magplano ng buhay ninyo! But remember, our motto is:

Hindi Kami Nag-iisip, Go lang Kami ng Go!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

KALAI's SIDE OF THE STORY:

And so this is our side of the story.

Day of the departure:

Kinahapunan. Bumaba ako ng hagdan tangan ang bag ko ng mga damit.
Nick: Tulog
Me: Oist Nick gumising ka na alis na tayo.
Nick: Ungol.inis.bugnot
Me: Kung di ka tatayo jan, aalis ako mag-isa!
Nick: Deadma
Papa John: Saan kayo pupunta?
Me: Di ko alam pero meron na kong bag.
Naalala ko ang text ni Roma na papunta na silang Pagudpod.
Me: (Texting) Magkano papunta jan? sunod kame! Papa John sama ka Pagudpod ?
Papa John: Sige
Me: Tawagan mo si Mama Kat
Papa John: Kausap si Mama Kat. Me sasabihin sa'yo si Karla...
Me: Mama Kat punta tayong Pagudpod
Mama Kat: Kelan alis?
Me: Mamaya
Mama Kat: Sige

Maya maya ay nagising si Nick tinext si Summer na sumama ren. Same rountine..
(Texting...)
Summer: Kelan alis?
Me: Using Nik's fon Mamaya. (Sent)
Me: texting summer again Pakitawagan na ren mga bus kung kelan last trip nila to Loaog (Sent)

Edit sa kwento ni Roma...

Ganito ang pagka kwento namin ke Roma nung first time ko s'yang nakita sa Laoag...


Me: Roma, sikat na sikat kayo dito pagbaba palang namin ng bus sinalubong na kame ng traysekel at nagtanong "Kayo ba ang kasama nung babae at nung tibong mahaba buhok?"

Roma: smiles

...

Pero hinde talaga yon..modified lang yon para mas funny.

pictures to come....

editing in black	and white	manki 1	manki 2

Last pose before we go. Ros, Ponkee and Oompa, Ana, Cecil and Baby, Cla and statue.	Who's gonna drive us home? Kuya Sany. Macho. Guapito.	Goodbye Island Cove!

January 1, 2006

As Mercy's birthday gift to herself, she asked us to bring 'gifts', but not for her self. She invited us over to a party, that she dedicated to the women in the correctional. Something great to start the year.

With the boys	Without the boys	What boys?!

BRING:
♦ little somethings. we brought canned goods and toiletries.

DO:
♦ Talk to the ladies. You'll be amazed how interesting their life stories can be.

♦ Entertain the ladies. Do a little song, a little dance. Or just join them when they do.

SOUVENIR:
♦ Handicrafts - the inmates do handicrafts. Help them. Buy something.

♦ Pictures - it's really not allowed to take pictures inside the Correctional. You deposit all your cameras, including camera phones. So wee took pictures outside instead.

December 28, 2005

lugawan Marikina Shoe Expo	tired of texting Alimall Foofcourt	tired of smiling Araneta Center	just tired front of Go Nuts Donuts

Videoke Come one come all.	Tenga.	Ride back to city proper - at the back of the trike.

BRING:
♦ money!

GET THERE:
In Katipunan corner Aurora, there are jeepneys that are bound to Marikina. Just tell the driver "Riverpark". There's a 7-11 store in the corner. You'll see Riverpark's well lit and busy street.

CHECK OUT:
♦ Sanctuaryo - a cofee shop slash gallery for coffe and arts enthusiasts. Really nice drinks and food. San Mig Light is at 35 bucks. Good view. Very good ambience.

♦ Ferry's Wheel - there were rides when i went there

EAT:
♦ Isaw and grilled food - you'll see them everywhere. Try it. Make sure you get a good seat by the river!

♦ Bibingka and Puto Bungbong - only available on Christmas seasons. I guess.

♦ Just try anything that you see there. Go for food trip! Then ride the ferry's wheel!

SOUVENIR:
♦ Slippers/shoes - what else? It's the Shoe Capital of the Philippines.

♦ Pictures!